Nursing Home Abuse LawyerOsage County, MO

Fighting Negligence and Abuse in Nursing Homes

Trusting the Nursing Home or Senior Care Facility that cares for your loved one should never be a question. Your family’s trust and your loved one’s health have been violated by the very institution you chose. You need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Osage County that has experience fighting Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits. Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Osage County holds nursing homes and assisted living facilities accountable for the abuse and neglect that they put their residents through, and we always hold these businesses accountable to the fullest letter of the law. We have the experience that your family needs to fight this Nursing Home Abuse lawsuit, and we’ll fight for the complete and total recovery of your family. Our meetings are free of charge, and we don’t charge any lawyers fee’s unless we win your family’s nursing home abuse claim. Call or contact our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Osage County now.

Gary Burger | Trial Attorney

Gary Burger is devoted to helping injury victims recover from devastating accidents in Missouri and Illinois. Gary practices all areas of personal injury law and has been successful in providing financial recovery while aiding in the protection of our clients' future.

How can I tell if my loved one is being abused in a nursing home?

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There are always signs that will show if your loved one is being abused or neglected by their care providers. Does your family member look emaciated? They may not be eating, or their caregiver might not be feeding them. Are their visibly apparent red spots or sores on their skin? If they are bed or wheelchair bound, then they aren’t being moved regularly to prevent these sores. Is your loved one unwilling to work with certain staff members or appear afraid? It’s possible that your loved one is being harmed by the staff. Here are several prominent signs that your loved one isn’t receiving care or is being harmed.

1. Nursing Home Abuse Malnourishment

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If your loved one isn’t eating, it will show. If they look thin, tired, emaciated, or seem overly fatigued after simple tasks, they may be getting the food they need. You’re paying for your loved one to be taken care of, not abused and punished. This is not ok. You can and should sue a nursing home that neglects your loved one, and causes them to become malnourished or emaciated. What are other clear signs of possible malnourishment? Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Osage County have identified these conditions as possible signs of malnourishment:

Skin Issues – The skin will take on a yellow hue, and in darker complexions, the skin may appear dull and heavily wrinkled. An aditional warning is that the skin under the fingernails will take on a pale hue.

Mouth Sores or Discoloration – If the mouth appears bright red, or if cankers sores are present, your loved one may be malnourished. Thrush and Yeast also develop from malnutrition.

Eye Issues – Worsening vision is a clear sign of malnourishment, as well as overly red eyes, glassy eyes, or swollen corneas.

Muscular Problems – If their muscles appear flaccid, or they are abnormally weak in stamina or strength, these are clear signs of malnourishment.

2. Nursing Home Abuse Bed Sores

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For individuals that are immobile or stuck in beds or wheelchairs for large amounts of time, bed sores are an issue. They develop as ulcers and sores and can quickly become serious infections that if not dealt with, can lead to death or loss of limbs. If your loved one developed bed sores while at a nursing home, they were neglected and not given the care they deserve. Bed Sores are even common in intensive care units. Bed Sores are not a guaranteed ailment, and are easily avoidable when residents are given the care and attention they need. Here are the different stages of bed sores our nursing home abuse lawyers in Osage County have identified that can show your loved one may have bed sores:

Stage 1. Bed Sore – Skin that is itchy, red, and unusually warm.

Stage 2. Bed Sore – The skin has now developed a sore or a blister, and the area around it will be discolored.

Stage 3. Bed Sore – The sore or blister is now at a more dangerous stage, and is causing a wide cavity to open in the flesh.

Stage 4. Bed Sore – Infection is common at this stage, and the wounds are quite severe.

These types of sores are easily preventable. Negligence caused the sores, and negligence can be sued. You can sue for bed sores, and you absolutely should. There is no excuse for their negligence, and you shouldn’t accept whatever excuse they offer you. They had their chance. Call our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Osage County now. We’ll take care of your family and your loved one.

Here is a short video about Bed Sores and what you can do about them.

3. Nursing Home Abuse or Mistreatment

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Abuser know how to hide their actions, and even if they don’t, your family member might not be willing to admit or not able to admit that they are being abused. The nursing home that you trusted with the care of your family member has abused them, and that is horrible and reprehensable. This is not an acceptable act, and its possibly criminal. Here are several signs to look for when you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected:

Financial Exploitation – This type of abuse can be hard to catch. {Higher than normal credit card bills, missing checks, or Wills that have been recently altered could be clear signs of financial exploitation of your loved one|If their credit cards are maxed out, if they are missing checks, or their will has been altered and you weren’t alerted, this is a clear sign of exploitation|If their checks have gone missing, if their credit cards are being declined, and if any of their other finances appear to out of order, these can be signs of exploitation|The signs for this type of abuse will be altered wills, mysterious power of attorney forms, maxed out credit cards, and missing checks.

Neglect – This type of abuse leads to malnourishment, possible bed sores, dirty living conditions, and often serious infections. Neglect from a caregiver can also lead to self neglect.

Physical Abuse – Abuse is apparent when your loved one has unexplained scratches, bruises, broken bones, and other physical marks they didn’t have before. If your loved one is suffering from any of these types of abuse, the police can be involved in the abuse. You should also sue the nursing home that allowed this abuse to happen. Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Osage County will fight for the recovery and rights of your loved one.

Psychological Abuse – If your family member appears afraid of their caregiver or nervous when the individual is around, but your loved one doesn’t have any visible bruises, they may be suffering from psychological abuse. This type of abuse is bullying, and can cause wounds as terrible as physical ones.

Here is a short video our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Osage County have prepared:

Are there any laws governing nursing home care?

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The Nursing Home Reform Act sets clear laws and guidelines for the rights of those who are in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. These are not suggestions, they are laws, and have to be followed to the letter of the law. According to the Nursing Home Reform Act, here is a quick breakdown of the rights your loved one can expect:

Freedom from Abuse

Freedom from Restraints

The Right to Privacy

The Right to Accommodation of social needs, psychological needs, physical needs, and medical needs

The Right to Participate in Resident and Family Groups

The Right to be treated with dignity

The Right to exercise self-determination

The Right to communicate freely

The Right to review and participate in any aspect of the care they are receiving and any changes to it

The Right to voice grievances

Your loved one has rights, by law, and if they’ve been violated you can pursue legal action against the Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility that was entrusted with their care. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Osage County are well versed in the laws the govern nursing homes and the levels of care that residents are entitled to. We can help you and your family if you decide to pursue a claim against the assisted living facility. You have options, and those who harmed your family can be held accountable. Call or Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Osage County now to protect your family.